---

Beer and Public Houses: Government Assistance

Answer

Treasury Ministers and officials regularly engage with businesses across sectors, and the Government recognises the value pubs and breweries bring and the challenges they face across the country, including in Ashfield.

The Government has announced a 20% cut to business rates bills for pubs from April 2027. This is in addition to the 15% relief off 2025/2026 bills, with bills frozen in real terms for a further two years. When taken together, these packages are worth nearly £250 million next year and will benefit around 32,000 pubs, social clubs and live music venues.

Separately, on 24 August 2026, the Government announced a review of pub and hotel business rates valuations to build a fairer system for the future. This review calls for the views of landlords, hoteliers and business owners.

We are also supporting breweries. Draught Relief enables products served on draught below 8.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) to pay less duty. This relief benefits pubs and other venues, as well as the producers that supply eligible products. Small Producer Relief (SPR) was introduced to replace and extend the previous Small Brewers Relief. SPR provides vital support to SMEs and market entrants by allowing brewers and smaller producers who make 4,500 hectolitres or less of alcohol per year to pay reduced duty rates on all products below 8.5% ABV.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

21765

Session

2026-27

Grouped for answer

Yes

Subjects

Beer Government assistance Public houses

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk